50 Year Re-Union - Class 1958

Date:16 Jun 2008
Category:

Blackrock College Class of 1958

Golden Jubilee Celebrations 16-17 May 2008

 We came from far and near, from Dingle and Dalkey, from Ballina and Ballsbridge and from Australia, Malaysia, USA, Birmingham, Middlesex and Somerset. There were 52 of us from the class of 1958 celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our days in ‘Rock. The years rolled back and days of youth and daring escapades were recalled with relish.

 The President, Fr. Cormac Ó Brocháin, CSSp (class of 1958) and the Union President, Brendan O’Connor, welcomed us to the College. Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick (1958) was principal celebrant and gave the homily at the Mass of Thanksgiving where candles were lit in memory of deceased classmates. College students conducted guided tours of the new buildings and the Castle and after that it was dinner in the College rugby club at Stradbrook where grace was led by former President, Fr. Brendan Hally, CSSp (1958). Tony Keane was MC for the evening and rendered a translation of the splendid menu into the nicknames of our old teachers that was inspired from the inside. Desmond B. O’Rourke, now resident in the USA, gave a typically witty and appropriate after-dinner address.

 Celebrations resumed next morning over brunch with wives and partners at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Compliments were paid to the organising committee and we resolved to meet again for the 55^th which, after consulting laptops and calculators, we agreed would be in five years time!